Delhi High Court Orders Removal of Congress Leaders Tweets Against Journalist Rajat Sharma. The Delhi High Court has ordered Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh, Pawan Khera, and Ragini Nayak to remove their tweets.
Congress Leaders Accused of Sharing Edited Video Clips
These tweets allege that Rajat Sharma, chairman and editor-in-chief of India TV, used abusive language during a television debate. This ruling came as part of a defamation lawsuit filed by Sharma.Justice Neena Bansal Krishna, who presided over the case, mandated that the contested posts on X (formerly known as Twitter) must be taken down within seven days.
The controversy began when Ragini Nayak accused Sharma of hurling abuses at her during a live debate on the counting day of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, subsequently sharing a video clip of the incident. Other Congress leaders amplified this claim by reposting the video and criticizing Sharma.
Upon reviewing the footage, the court found that Sharma’s intervention in the debate was minimal and did not contain any abusive language directed at Nayak. Consequently, the court concluded that the accusations were unfounded and that allowing the videos and tweets to remain online would cause significant and irreparable damage to Sharma’s reputation.
Justice Neena Bansal Krishna said it is prima facie evident from the footage of the TV debate played in the court that plaintiff Sharma had “barely intervened for a few seconds and no abusive language was used” against Nayak.The social media posts berating the journalist are an “over-sensationalisation”, the court said.
The court said the balance of convenience lies in favour of the plaintiff as by making these videos private or injuncting them from being available on public platforms, no infringement on the rights of defendants will be caused.However, the inconvenience that would result from these videos and X posts continuing to remain in the public domain may not be compensated by damages in future, it said.
High Court Issues Broad Removal Orders
The court’s order extends beyond social media posts on X. It also includes directives to remove the video from YouTube and other platforms. Google has been Instructed to make the videos private and ensure they remain inaccessible without a judicial order.
Justice Krishna emphasized that the continued availability of these videos and posts could lead to irreparable harm that cannot be adequately addressed through damages or other compensations in the future.The court observed that the Congress leaders had shared an edited video, claiming it to be unaltered footage of the debate aired on the election day. This misrepresentation, according to the court, has the potential to bring undue disrepute to Sharma.
The defendants, who are Congress leaders, would not be harmed.. The material can be kept out of the public domain until the suit is adjudicated on its merits.” Justice Krishna noted, highlighting that the tweets have a potential of causing substantial harm to Sharma’s reputation without any feasible means of reparation.
The High Court has also issued summons to the involved parties, including the three Congress leaders, X Corp, Google India, and Meta Platforms. The next hearing is set for July 11.This decision underscores the judiciary’s stance on defamation and the need to protect individuals’ reputations from potentially damaging and unfounded allegations, especially in the era of digital and social media where information spreads rapidly.
The case serves as a reminder of the legal responsibilities associated with posting content online, particularly for public figures and political leaders. The court’s intervention aims to balance the right to free speech with the need to prevent harm caused by misinformation and defamatory content.
As social media continues to play a pivotal role shaping public opinion, this ruling highlights the importance of verifying facts before making public accusations, ensuring that the discourse remains respectful and grounded in truth.Justice Krishna’s order reflects the court’s intent to mitigate potential harm while the case is being resolved, thereby safeguarding the integrity of the judicial process and the reputations involved.
This ruling also sets a precedent for how similar cases might be handled in the future, reinforcing the legal standards for defamation and the protection of individual reputation against baseless claims circulated online.
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